The Skin I Am In

My mother Beverly had gorgeous caramel -floored skin and she told me that my father had a dark complexion as well. So I am American Indian and Italian. You would think I would have dark pigmentation but nooooo...

The last time I went to the DMV to change my address on my license, the ultra-crabby lady behind the counter asked me if the "Native American " listed as my race was correct. I told her it was in fact so and pulled out my tribal membership card to show her!

It's a funny thing. I share only half the DNA with my 7 siblings and only 1 of them is as fair-skinned as I. While I can quickly turn a nice brown without burning, I choose not to bake myself in
the sun...I just don't want to look like a distressed leather
satchel when I am a senior citizen!

More From People Who Are Pale In a World That Tans

I get people asking me if I'm feeling ok because of how white I look. "Yeah, fine thanks" and it's this raised eyebrows expression. Eurgh! It's my natural skin shade ok, get over it. I rarely ever tan, even if I go somewhere really hot. My doctor even requested for my blood count...

I've never been able to tan... and I've never much cared... Until last summer, when I spent a lot of time outdoors burning despite loads of sunscreen. I think what got me though was that my son (one at the time) walked away with a gorgeous golden tan by the end of...

I went on holiday to Spain last year for 2 weeks. It was gloriously hot every single day and me and my friend took full advantage of the sun, sitting around in it at every opportunity.
I managed to burn the bottom of my back to a crisp and spent the rest of the holday wincing...

I recently went on holiday and whilst I was there I got sunburnt, which has now turned into more or less a tan, so right now, no I'm not pale in a world that tans, but the sunburn was accidental and I wasn't trying to tan at the time so I think I can be let off the hook.
I'm not...